How To Download Unreal Engine 5

Before rushing ahead to download Unreal, it’s wise to take some time to ensure your system meets the minimum requirements and make a few preparations. Here are some steps to take beforehand:

Check System Specifications – Unreal is very demanding in terms of hardware, so review the recommended specs on Epic’s website including processor, graphics card, RAM, storage space etc. Exceeding these is ideal.

Create Epic Account – You’ll need to create a free Epic account to download Unreal. Take a moment to set this up if you don’t have one already.

Choose Install Location – Decide where you want Unreal installed on your computer and ensure you have ample storage space available.

Internet Connection – Unreal is a large download, so make sure you have a stable, high-speed internet connection before starting.

Back Up Files – Backup any important files as a precaution before installing major software.

The first step is to download the Epic Games Launcher itself. Here’s how:

Go to the Download page on UnrealEngine.com and choose your desired license type – either Publishing or Creators. Click the Download Now button to save the Launcher installer to your computer. Once downloaded, run the installer file and wait for it to fully complete. This will install the Launcher and any other required components like DirectX.

After installing the Launcher, you’ll be asked to sign in or create an Epic Games account. Here are the steps:

If you already have an account, simply sign in with your credentials to continue. Otherwise, click Sign Up to make a new free account using your email or social media accounts. You can also skip registration for now by selecting “Sign In Later”, but you won’t be able to install or use the engine without an account.

Be sure to review Epic’s Privacy Policy regarding how your account details are handled.
Once registered and signed in, you’re ready to install the engine itself!

Now it’s time to install. Just a few quick steps:

In the Launcher, click the “Unreal Engine” tab at the top.
Click the “Install Engine” button, then choose the Unreal engine version you want.
Optional: Click “Browse” to change the install directory path.
Click “Options” to pick engine components like platform support, starter content packs etc.
Make sure you have enough disk space based on the options you choose.
Click “Apply” once you’ve configured the components to install.

Finally click “Install” to begin the download process. Expect this to take 10-45 minutes depending on your connection speed. You can install multiple versions of the engine and easily manage them through the Launcher. The Launcher makes it simple to add or remove components from an already installed version too – just use the “Options” menu.

Once installation completes, you’re ready to launch into the engine editor and start your adventure! Just click the “Launch” button.

The Launcher will handle all patching and updates in the background whenever new engine versions or fixes are released. You’ll always be up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.

Moving or Changing Install Locations

If you need to move an existing engine install folder or point the Launcher to a non-standard location, here are the steps:

In the Launcher, click the “+” button to add a “new” version. Pick the engine version that matches your existing folder.

Click “Browse” and select the current install directory you want to move or change. Start the install process, then click “Cancel” so it registers the path but doesn’t fully reinstall.

In your operating system file explorer, move the install folder to the new location.
Back in the Launcher, click “Resume” so it detects the moved installation. This process will verify and update your custom install path so you can launch the engine as expected.